Quote from Robert Gounley, OASIS Membership Director and JPL scientist:

“Claudia’s intelligence, enthusiasm, and glowing smile made her a joy to
work with. Time and again, I saw assemble her fellow scientists into
effective teams that accomplished great things. She will be missed.”

Many thanks to all who visited the OASIS table on Saturday, March 28th. There was no shortage of amazing aeronautical acrobatics and precision flying. Did you witness the awesome engine power of the C17 as it backed up (and up, and up… surely caught a few by surprise)? Did you see the Predator autonomous drone? The DeLorean?

It’s our mission to spread the word about how science and engineering is so important to the future. We hope the 3D printed give-aways and science toy raffle prizes ignite a spark of interest in younger minds to get interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) and eventually to add their own unique contribution to the many achievements of this great country.

Leonard Nimoy may have played a fictional character, but his contributions to space exploration were very real, as seen here. From inspiring those of us who grew up with Star Trek: TOS to his contribution to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles to his narration of IMAX films on space explorations, his work will live on into the 23rd century and beyond.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the DSCOVR launched successfully from Cape Canaveral at 6:04 ET on February 11. About 40 minutes later, DSCOVR separated from the second stage and took off for its final destination – orbit around L1.

Unfortunately, the Falcon 9 first stage won’t be able to attempt a landing on a ship – the ocean waves are too rough. Next time…

The European Space Agency (ESA)’s Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) spaceplane launch-reentry mission was a big success! At approximately 6 am PT (2 pm GMT) on February 11, IXV launched atop a Vega rocket from the Guiana Space Center (Kourou, French Guiana), and splashed down in the South Pacific at 7:20 am PT (3:20 pm GMT).

This is the 4th launch of a Vega; all have been successful. These launches have shown that the Vega can launch different payloads in different orbits, which has tremendous scientific and commercial significance. This is also the 45th mission by Arianespace.

This is a very large collaboration: Thales Alenia Space Italia was the prime contractor building the IXV, with over 40 companies, universities, and research institutes involved.

The mission tested several of IXV’s parameters: its wingless spaceplane shape; the thermal protection systems, which incorporate ceramic and ablative; and its advanced automated guidance and navigation system for reentry and landing.

This mission is a big step in the ESA’s development of re-entry technology. Congratulations to the ESA, Arianespace, Thales Alenia Space Italia, and all collaboration efforts!

On February 8, 2015, the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) is set to launch aboard a Falcon 9 at 6:10 pm ET (3:10 pm PT) from Cape Canaveral, FL. This launch is highly and doubly significant: DSCOVR’s primary mission is to give advance warning of solar winds and magnetic fields before they reach the Earth and cause geomagnetic storms. This is absolutely crucial to preserving the national security and economy, which heavily depend on advanced technology that would be severely disrupted. In addition, this launch will be SpaceX’s second attempt to land the first stage of a Falcon 9 in reusable condition on a specific target.

Well, actually, espresso. The Italians have developed the ISSpresso, which will make the good stuff, even in microgravity.

And soon the astronauts/cosmonauts can even drink it out of cups! No more of these squeeze bags and straws. These cups are made on a 3D printer. They have a rather wacky shape but that’s what’s needed to hang onto the liquid.

Although this 3D-printing technology is to be used for more serious applications[1]: other fluid transporting, such as in fuel tanks, cooling systems and life support.

[1]WHAT! what’s more serious than coffee? Tell me that when I’m first waking up!

About OASIS

Welcome to OASIS, the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the National Space Society. The Organization for the Advancement of Space Industrialization and Settlement is one of the oldest and largest chapters of the NSS.